GeorgeSears wrote:Congrats to the Lakers for averting the sweep. They did two things they haven't done all series: outrebound the Nuggets and committed less turnovers. AD getting 23 rebound was the the difference maker here. It really should be 2-2 instead of 3-1. The game 2 choke job is what will haunt them.
Other points:
- Jokic was embarrassing defensively. He just showed no effort at all on that end. The Lakers had 72 points in the paint. Everyone was attacking the basket and scoring at will with no resistance at all. It was easily the worst performance he's had in a very long time because he did absolutely nothing on defense.
- The Nuggets bench finally got outplayed by the Lakers bench. I knew the honeymoon phase wasn't going to last long. Sure enough, it didn't.
Oh well, got to close it out in game 5.
Jokic is embarrassing defensively always in what lakers did in game 4..i mean he is underrated as a defender static, he is good in the post or when he is under the rim waiting the ball handler, but always in move plays/drives/pick&roll, the typical play when reaves turn, stop,or move on slowly with the ball, jokic mostly of those plays stay in no man's land, he doesn't even raise his arms to try to disturb bombs, hooks or shots at 2 -3 meters...
Only Aaron Gordon has the ability to change shots in the paint in denver..lakers could get every possession easy shots / layups in the paint, the problem is when lakers outplayed first half, and then started to try circus shots, stepbacks or whatever contested with 5 open guys and no one to catch offensive boards..the first game davis shoot about 4 threes in second half..one of them with deandre jordan in front of him...this doesnt make any sense
Second game lakers outplayed driving the paint, and then denver adjust in second half and put jokic on rui, gordon with davis, and kcp with lebron...easiest matchups to drive or post but davis did a TO and just lost confidence and move to the corner to be passive...rui get a ball in wing left and hit a three with jokic hand in his face...when if he fake and drive fast with first step he could have made a layup or pass to the dunk spot or cut of another player..
lakers just have to penetrate/drive 48 min..and when denver close the paint pass out and hit the open threes